Improvement in modes of ascertaining the quality of lamp-oil



Patented Sept. 3 i

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UNITED. STATES PATENT OEEICE- JOHN HARRIS., OF DORCHESTER,MASSACHUSETTS.

. .IMPROVEMENT IN MODES A0F ASCERTAINING THE QUALITY 0F LAMP-OIL.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 17,764, datedSeptember 3, 1840.

T0 @ZZ whom it' may concern: g

Be it known that I, JOHN W. HAREIs, of Dorchester, in the county ofNorfolk and State of Massachusetts, have discovered a method ofdetecting admixtures and adulterations of whale and other inferior oilswith spermacetioil, founded on certain principles I have applied in theconstruction of. an instrument or graduated scale, which I term anoleometer;77 and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof.

The oleometer-scale is an oblong wood or metal scale of two parts (seeannexed drawing)-viz., a slide, A A, and a frame, B B B B. The upperportion of the slide is graduated into eighty degrees or divisions, from0 on the left extreme to 80 on the right extreme, and marked withfigures every ten degrees. The lower portion of the slide contains thedegrees of temperature from 30 to 100 Fahrenheit.

On the lower portion of the frame part B- B B B is an index, (markedthus -OOQ the upper part of which points to the degrees of temperatureas the slide moves over it.

On the upper part of the frame (over the divisions on the slide) thequality of the oil is pointed out, thus: On the left of this part oftheframe is the letter W 7 7 for whale-oil. On the right is SP forspermaceti-oil. The space between these letters is divided into onehundred degrees, showing the adulterations from pure spermaceti-oil topure whale-oil in percentums, and is marked with the per cents. 5, 10,20, 25, &c. On the right of SB (orl standard-point of sperm-oil) arethree vertical marks, to show the range of weight between winter,spring, and summer manufactured sperm-oils, the temperature of theseasons at the time of manufacturing the oil having a material effect onthe specific gravity of it, the standard-point SP 7 being placed at theweight of winter-manufactured oil, which is the heaviest, whilesummer-oil is the lightest, of manufactured spermaceti-oils. This willbe more fully explained hereinafter.

The oleometer-scale, as above described, together with a thermometergraduated according to Fahrenheit, is used to ascertain the indicationsof the oleometer, (see drawings) which oleometer is made of silver andin every way similar to those` hitherto used, being simply a hollowegg-shaped bulb, C, supporting a graduated stem, D, the stem dividedinto eighty degrees or divisions, from 0 to 80.

Similar to the slideA of my oleometer-scale, at the bottom of the bulb,a 'balance-weight, E, is attached by a silverV wire, F.

The uses of my oleometer-scale may be best understood by introducing thefollowing directions for testing the purity of spermacetioil, viz'. :vFirst ascertain the temperature of the oil to be tested by thethermometer. Then means of the sliding part of the scale. Then place inthe oil the oleometer, and it will sink what that division or degree is,and immediately above the corresponding number on the slide of the scaleyou will find the quality of the oil. For example: Suppose thetemperature of the oil to be 60 Fahrenheit.

that temperature to the index Oo by moving the slide. Now place in theoil the oleometer. If it -sink to the division 60 on the stern, im.-

sperm-oil. Should it sink to 10, above 10 on the slide is NV," orwhale-oil. Should it sink to 32, it is adulterated fifty per cent. If itsink to 48%, it is adulterated twenty-five per cent. with whale-oil orother inferior oils; and thus, of whatever temperature you find-the oil,the adjusting of that temperature to the index prepares the scale forthe operations ofthe oleometer.

The principles to which my scale is applicable are, first, that thespecific gravity of manufactured spermaceti-oil is materially affectedbythe temperature of the atmosphere at the time of expressing orstraining the said oil from the crude matter. oil, as brought from sea,afterV being exposed to a very low temperature-say from 10 below to 10above 0 Fahrenheit-so as to be thoroughly congealed, and then sufferedto -rise in temperature, say, to 20 or 25 above 0 Fahrenheit, so thatoil would flow therefrom, such oil was of a greater specic gravity thanoil obtained lfrom the same crude adjust that temperature to the indexOo-byV to some of the divisions on the stem. Note Adjusty mediatelyabove 60 on the slide is SP, or`

I found that crude matter at a tempera-ture of 60 or 70 Fahrenheit. Theoil obtained at the low temperature i I discovered to be erroneous, for,by proceedabove named is termed winter-pressed spermaceti-oil, andcongeals only at the same temperature at which it was expressed. Thusthe several oils obtained from crude matter during. the months of March,May, and July A are each found to obey the same law-that is to say', arespecifically lighter and congeal at higher temperatures according to theseasonsV at which they are severally manufactured.

The instruments heretofore used for inspecting oil have their sperm-oilstandard placed at solight a specic gravity that early manufacturedspringoil and winter-oil are condemned by them as adulterations of tenper cent. or twelve per cent.

The other principle I discovered and applied in my oleometer-scale isthe peculiar operation of temperature on the contraction and cxpansionof spermaceti-oil. v

The instruments heretofore used supposed an equal and uniformcontraction and eXpansion under all temperatures-that is, theirinstruments or oleometers being adjusted at the temperature of 60Fahrenheit, they gave as a general rule that forevery 10 of ltemperaturewarmer or colder than 60 the stem of their oleometer should be allowedto sink or rise four divisions of its stem in the oil, and that for anyexcess of this allowance two per cent. for every division or degree ofthis eX- cess should be allowed-that is, that at the temperature 70 thestem should sink four divisions of the stem lower than at 60. If it sunkbut two, the minus two would condemn the oil as adulterated four percent. This rule ing with it the same oil changed its character from purespermacetioil to ten or twelve per cent. adulteration. I then discoveredthat the contraction and expansion of spermacetioil followed a differentl'aw, that at higher' temperatures than 60 Fahrenheit the oleometer didnot sink so far in a given number of degrees of temperature as at thetemperature of 60 and under, and therefore that the scale of explanationor oleometer-scale must regulate this peculiarity by enlarging the cx'-tent of the divisions on the slide beyond the figures 60.

The cause of this operation of spermacetioil I impute to the effect ofthe spermaceti or candle-stuff',77 which, being the heaviest substancein crude spermaceti-oil, and particles of which pass into the oil whileexpressing, by the action of a high temperature upon them, becomeliquefied and exert-jan influence on the oleometer-which they have notat lower temperatures.

.What I claim as my invention is- IThe construction of theoleometerscale, also the mode of ascertaining the quality of spermacetioil` at any particular temperature by means ofthe aforesaid scale, incombination with the oleometer and thermometer, as herein set forth.

I disclaim as my invention the oleometer itself.

J. XV. HARRIS. W'itnesses:

CrrA'RLns MAsoN, JOSEPH WILLARD.

